New Zealand in Samoa: Introduction of Influenza 1918

In 1918 Influenza reached Eastern Australia through British Imperial military and cargo shipping causing an estimated 12,000-15,000 deaths of Euro-Australians. In that same year in October the British were responsible for killing Euro NZ-Colonials, British-New Zealanders, and Maori allies in Auckland, carried by the British Royal Mail liner RMS Niagra. Several thousand were infected in under 6 weeks which was thought to only stop there with those infected.

In Western Samoa, November 1918 only 1 month later a New Zealand ship called the 'S.S. Talune' came from Auckland and docked at a British-allied Samoan Apia port. Influenza killed most all Samoans 'allied to the British'. The estimated 1/5 Samoan population that was infected were ones who lived close and in surrounding places to the allied Samoan-British Apia port, the same situation which happened in Auckland New Zealand. Many New Zealand summary on this part of history leave out the previous areas infected in Eastern Australia and which ports that British landed. Areas of Western Samoa where the Mau Samoan League had formed were untouched and grew after the tragedy, using it as an example of New Zealand administration incompetance.

Later that month again in New Zealand 1918 'Black November' becomes New Zealand's worst health Crisis in it's national history, a title named so by New Zealand author Geoffrey W. Rice. An estimated 15,000 more deaths happened between Auckland and Christchurch. 

Eastern Samoa who had strong relations to the USA was not infected, nor was Eastern Polynesia who were alligned with the French. Other areas of Polynesia too who did not have relations with British or New Zealand had no deaths from an Influenza outbreak. 

Related articles:

- Samoan History and Related events Timelime 

- NZ Influenza in Western Samoa 1918: 3 Historical things people get wrong